COLEMAN BANGS STRIKES IN DEBUT

The following is a story on Coleman's debut posted at MLB.com:

KANSAS CITY -- Royals manager Ned Yost wasted no time getting rookie Louis Coleman his first exposure to the big leagues. Just hours after his arrival, Coleman was brought in to pitch against Cleveland, relieving Sean O'Sullivan after a leadoff single in the Indians' seventh.

That was Yost's plan -- get through at least six innings with O'Sullivan, then go to Coleman, Aaron Crow and, if necessary, Joakim Soria. As it turned out, Soria was not needed because Coleman notched two shutout innings and Crow worked a scoreless ninth to get credit for the 3-2 victory.

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"Both those kids came in banging strikes," Yost said. "That's key. If you're coming in late in key games, you've got to bang strikes."

Coleman, right in character with his Minor League strikeout credentials (16 in seven innings), struck out the first batter he faced, Adam Everett. He retired three batters in the seventh. In the eighth, he gave up two hits but got help when center fielder Melky Cabrera threw out a runner at the plate.

The ecstatic Coleman was oblivious to the weather conditions -- rain and temperatures around 50 degrees -- in his Major League debut.

"You always think of a sunny day, the wind blowing in, just perfect conditions," Coleman said. "But today it was raining, you had to make do. Still, it didn't feel like it was raining or that it was cold. It was a blast and everything I thought it would be. Like everybody says, it was a dream come true."

A walk-off victory made it even sweeter.

Yost was impressed by his latest rookie reliever.

"We got a real good view of him in Spring Training of how good he is, and he showed it again tonight in his Major League debut," Yost said. "No butterflies, just came in on the attack."

Dan Called up to Majors

Louis Coleman (LSU-Dans 2006) has been called up to the Kansas City Royals from AAA Omaha, bringing the number of Dans Alumni to play major league baseball to 19. GOOD LUCK LOUIS!

Note: In his first major league appearance, Louis pitched two shutout innings of relief tonight against the Cleveland Indians.

DANS DRAFT UPDATE.....

Seven Dans were drafted in day 1 and 2 of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft.

Dans alumni Louis Coleman (2006-LSU) was drafted by Kansas City and teammate Ryan Schimpf (2007-LSU))by the Toronto Blue Jays, both in the 5th round. Schimpf and Coleman are currently headed to Omaha to particpate in the College World Series, which begins June 13.

Dan David Born (2006- Long Beach) & Evan Button (2006-Ole Miss) were drafted in the 22nd round. Born by Colorado and Button by Arizona.

Chris McGinnis (2007-Citadel) was drafted by Boston in the 13th round, and Dan Black (2007-Purdue) was drafted in the 14th round by the Chicago White Sox.

Dan Kazrowski (Hamline University), 2008 League MVP, was drafted by the Diamondbacks. The 2nd/SS went in the 26th round.

Day 3 is the last day of the draft which begins at 10:30 AM tomorrow (Thursday) morning.

DANS COLEMAN NAMED SEMIFINALIST

Louis Coleman (Dans 2006 - LSU) has been named one of the 15 semi-finalists for the College Baseball foundation Pitcher of the Year Award.

With the Tigers this year, Coleman is sporting a 2.45 ERA with 99 strikeouts and 18 walks. He is 10 & 2 for the season.

While with the Dans, Louis had a 1.04 ERA, was 4 & 0, and had 36 strikeouts and 7 walks. In Danville, Coleman was coached by Jamie Sailors.

DANS DUO DROPS KENTUCKY

In the 1st of a Sunday afternoon double header, second baseman Ryan Schimpf (Danville Dans 2007), homered and starter Louis Coleman (Danville Dans 2006) threw a complete game as the third-ranked Tigers topped Kentucky 3-1 and win their opening SEC series.

Coleman (4-1) pitched a complete game, allowing only four hits and striking out seven while giving up only one earned run, his first of the season. He also struck out the side in the seventh to end the game.

The Tigers broke a tie in the bottom of the fourth when Schimpf blasted a two-run homer over the right field wall to put LSU up 3-1. It was Schimpf’s second home run of the season.

DANS PRE-SEASON HONORS CONTINUE TO MOUNT

Forty players have been named by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association to their pre-season Stopper of the Year Award list. Among those forty players are former Danville Dans, A.J. Griffin (2007-University of San Diego) and Louis Coleman (2006-LSU), who both add this honor to many others.

Nominations for the award were made by baseball sports information/media relation contacts all over the country and will be up-dated mid season (April 16) to include the season's national saves leaders. The Division I national saves leader and four other relief pitching standouts will be selected as finalists just prior to the start of NCAA regional tournament play on May 27. The 2009 Stopper of the Year will be announced the week of June 1.

DANS RACK UP HONORS & WINS

As the 2008 college season begins to wind down, Danville Dans continue to rack up honors and assist their colleges in tournament play.

LSU’s Ryan Schimpf (Dans 07’) was named to the SEC (Southeastern Conference) All-Tournament Team. In the championship game, Schimpf was 2-4 with a double that scored 2 runners and prompted the Ole’Miss pitcher’s exit from the game. LSU defeated Ole’ Miss 8 to 2 and will host an NCAA regional. As a side note, Louis Coleman (Dans 06’-pictured) entered the game in the 4th inning and was brilliant in relief. He improved his record to 6-0 as he allowed just 3 hits in 6 innings with no walks and 7 strikeouts, 3 of those in the 9th.

Drury Universities, LHP Chris Marston (Dans 08’) was named All-GLVC (Great Lakes Valley Conference).

Purdue’s Jon Moore (Dans 06’) and Dan Black (Dans 07’) were named to the Big Ten All-Tournament team. Purdue fell to top-seed Michigan 3-2 in the tournament championship game. RHP Tony Sedlmeyer (Dans 08’) was the starting pitcher and put zeros on the Michigan scoreboard through four innings before the Wolverines broke through with an unearned run in the 5th.